Spray polyurethane foam is the ONLY insulation considered flood-resistant according to FEMA. FEMA recommends building and rebuilding with flood resistant materials in order to reduce risk to the building’s structure and make cleanup easier and less expensive.

What does “Flood Resistant” Mean?

According to this FEMA document called “Build with Flood Damage Resistant Materials”, Building materials are considered flood resistant if they can withstand direct contact with flood waters for at least 72 hours without being significantly damaged. “Significant damage” means any damage that requires more than low cost, cosmetic repair (such as painting).

Anyone who has had to have “the pink stuff” or other insulation pulled from their home after a flood knows the value of this.

FEMA’s List of Flood Resistant Materials

Here are two great reference documents supplied by FEMA as guidance for homeowners, contractors, and property owners.

“Flood Damage-Resistant Materials Requirements”: A thorough list of building materials including numbered ratings (1 is lowest, 5 is highest) identifying materials as either “Acceptable” or “Unacceptable”. Spray foam is the only insulation material that has a rating of 5 and is considered an acceptable flood resistant building material. See page 10 of the document for the insulation ratings.

What is a cool roof?
A cool roof is a reflective surface usually installed on commercial buildings. One of the main benefits of a cool roof system is that it offers an immediate and long-term reduction of air conditioning and heating usage to maintain a comfortable atmosphere through out the year.

Why are cool roofs white?
When the sun shines on a white roof, much of the untraviolet rays are reflected back through the atmosphere into space. When the sun shnes on a dark surface, about 15% of the sunlight is reflected. Most of the sunlight is absorbed and converted to heat, which then heats the atmosphere.

According to the US Department of Energy, “President Obama and Secretary Chu have made clear that the federal government should play a leading role in moving the nation toward a more sustainable future. Under President Obama’s Executive Order on Sustainability, the federal government has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 28 percent by 2020. As part of that effort, Secretary Chu has directed all DOE offices to install cool roofs, whenever cost effective over the lifetime of the roof, when constructing new roofs or replacing old ones at DOE facilities. With cool roofs, these federal buildings will consume less energy, offset additional carbon emissions, and save taxpayers money.” Read more at Energy.gov

Adding insulation to the attic, walls facing the exterior of the home, under the floors, exterior and interior walls, the basement, and the crawl space(s) are the best sections of your home to notice a substantial improvement on lowering energy consumption.

The Attic
Installing Lapolla’s spray foam insulation on the bottom of the roof deck in your attic is beneficial in many ways. Since hot air rises, without spray foam, the summer temperatures will make it uncomfortably hot and winters frigid. Adding open-cell or closed cell spray foam insulation will protect your attic from air escaping and keep it comfortable throughout the year.

Exterior Walls vs. Interior Walls
Interior Walls are great to use open-cell spray foam since it acts as both an air sealant and a sound barrier. Closed-Cell spray foam insulation is a denser in structure and is a great air and water barrier. Closed-Cell spray foam insulation is often used in both roofing and wall insulation improvements.

The Basement & Crawl Spaces
Insufficient home insulation can cause drafts. If the basement and crawl spaces lack insulation, homeowners will notice this draft through a number of ways including cold floors, and noticeable moisture and/or mold buildup.

Request a free spray foam insulation quote for your new home or to make improvements or call 888-4-LAPOLLA

http://lapolla.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/home-spray-foam-insulation-attic-walls-crawl-space-local.jpg3511210Lapolla Indhttps://www.lapolla.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Lapolla-40-Anniversary-Web-Logo.pngLapolla Ind2014-08-14 22:52:552014-10-13 16:03:18Which Areas of My Home Can I Insulate?